Defense Grid: The Awakening System Requirements
Defense Grid: The Awakening, released Dec 8, 2008, is an indie / strategy game from Hidden Path Entertainment. Its recommended spec points at NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 graphics with an Intel Core i3-3240-class CPU; below we translate that into parts you can actually buy today.
Official System Requirements
The minimum specs for Defense Grid: The Awakening call for NVIDIA GeForce GT 640-class graphics, Intel Core i3-3240-class processor, 0.5 GB of RAM and 1 GB of storage.
The recommended specs for Defense Grid: The Awakening call for NVIDIA GeForce GT 640-class graphics, Intel Core i3-3240-class processor, 1 GB of RAM and 1 GB of storage.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i3-3240 | Intel Core i3-3240 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 | NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 |
| RAM | 0.5 GB | 1 GB |
| Storage | 1 GB | 1 GB |
Original published requirement text
Minimum: Minimum:
ATI Radeon 9600 or newer (9600-9800, X300-X1950, HD 2400-HD 4870)
NVIDIA GeForce 6100 or newer (6100-6800, 7100-7950, 8300-8800, 9600-9800, or GTX 216-280)
Recommended: Recommended:
ATI Radeon X700 or newer (X700-X1950, HD 2400-HD 4870)
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 or newer (7600-7950, 8300-8800, 9600-9800, or GTX 216-280)
Best GPU for Defense Grid: The Awakening
Full GPU guide →Defense Grid: The Awakening's stated graphics card is roughly NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Arc B570
~$259.99Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended
AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
~$350AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT adds headroom with 16GB VRAM - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Performance
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti
~$430NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti leaves plenty of margin with 16GB VRAM for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Best CPU for Defense Grid: The Awakening
Full CPU guide →Defense Grid: The Awakening's stated processor is roughly Intel Core i3-3240 level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Core i3-14100F
~$104.97Intel Core i3-14100F is the cheapest current chip that clears this game's recommended bar. Fine for 1080p.
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
~$84.93AMD Ryzen 5 5500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Performance
AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT
~$179AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT leaves plenty of margin for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended PC build for Defense Grid: The Awakening
Full build guide →Want the whole tower speced out? Our Defense Grid: The Awakening build guide pairs these CPU and GPU picks with RAM, motherboard, SSD, PSU and case at budget, recommended and performance tiers, with an approximate total.
Can these parts run Defense Grid: The Awakening?
- Can the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT run Defense Grid: The Awakening?
- Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is well ahead of Defense Grid: The Awakening's NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
- Can the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 run Defense Grid: The Awakening?
- Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is well ahead of Defense Grid: The Awakening's Intel Core i3-3240 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
FAQ
- What is the cheapest GPU for Defense Grid: The Awakening?
- Intel Arc B570 - Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
- Which CPU should I get for Defense Grid: The Awakening?
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500 - AMD Ryzen 5 5500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
- How much RAM does Defense Grid: The Awakening need?
- Defense Grid: The Awakening lists 1 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.
- Is a NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 still enough for Defense Grid: The Awakening?
- It matches the game's stated target, so it will run, but it is an older part. A current card in the budget tier above gives you driver support and better efficiency for a similar outlay.